You can still buy a new rear-wheel-drive sports car in the US for under $31,000, and it’s the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata at $30,730. But the cheapest car isn’t the best buy. We think the 2027 Toyota GR86 is the affordable sports car most people should choose, because $770 more gets you 47 more horsepower and a fixed roof you can live with all year.
We ranked five affordable sports cars under $45,000 using each automaker’s own US prices as of October 2026, and we worked out what each one charges you per horsepower. Destination fees are extra, and they differ by brand.
Quick answer: The cheapest new sports car in the US is the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata at $30,730 before destination. The best value is the 2027 Toyota GR86 at $31,500, with 228 hp against the Miata’s 181. The 2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost costs the least per horsepower: about $105 for each of its 315 hp.
Affordable sports cars ranked by price
| Model | Starting price | Horsepower | Price per hp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport | $30,730 | 181 | $170 |
| 2027 Toyota GR86 | $31,500 | 228 | $138 |
| 2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback | $32,995 | 315 | $105 |
| 2027 Subaru BRZ Limited | $36,140 | 228 | $159 |
| 2027 Nissan Z Sport | $44,480 | 400 | $111 |
Price per horsepower is a blunt tool. It ignores weight, and weight is the whole point of a Miata. But it shows where your money goes, and it explains why the Mustang belongs on any list of affordable sports cars.
Why is the Toyota GR86 the best value?
Toyota.com lists the 2027 GR86 at $31,500, and it shares a 2.4-liter flat-four with 228 hp and 184 lb-ft with the Subaru BRZ. You get a choice of a six-speed manual or an automatic on the base car, and a pair of small rear seats that are more useful for a gym bag than a person. Toyota quotes 0–60 mph in 6.1 seconds.
The step up to the GR86 Premium costs $34,400. That’s still $1,740 less than the cheapest 2027 BRZ, which matters when both cars use the same 228-hp engine. If you don’t need the Premium’s extras, the base car is the one to buy.
Mazda MX-5 Miata: the cheapest way into a sports car
Mazda’s US site prices the 2026 MX-5 Miata Sport at $30,730, up from the $30,430 Mazda quoted in its January 2026 pricing release. Destination adds $1,315. Every Miata uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 181 hp and a 7,500-rpm redline. The mid-level Club, which most enthusiasts aim for, starts at $34,230.
Here’s the trap at the dealership. The Sport and Club come only with the six-speed manual. If you want an automatic, you have to buy the Grand Touring, which starts at $36,030, so the cheapest two-pedal Miata costs at least $5,300 more than the Sport.
Ford Mustang EcoBoost: the most power for the money
Ford.com lists the 2026 Mustang EcoBoost Fastback at $32,995 with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four rated at 315 hp. That’s 87 hp more than the GR86 for $1,495 more, and it’s why the Mustang wins our price-per-horsepower column at about $105 per hp. The EcoBoost Premium Fastback, with the same engine, starts at $36,345.
It’s a bigger car than the Japanese coupes, and with a back seat and a usable trunk, it’s the easiest of the five to live with every day. Our earlier look at the Mustang EcoBoost Fastback’s features and prices covers the trims in more detail.
Subaru BRZ: the GR86’s twin, with EyeSight on every car
The 2027 BRZ starts at $36,140 for the Limited with a manual, according to Subaru’s June 4, 2026 pricing release. The 2027 lineup has two trims, the Limited and the $38,770 tS. Destination is $1,245.
What you get for the higher price is equipment. Every 2027 BRZ now carries Subaru’s latest EyeSight driver-assist system, including manual cars, with adaptive cruise control and pre-collision braking. The tS adds STI-tuned Hitachi dampers and Brembo brakes. If you’ll track the car, the tS is the BRZ to buy; if you won’t, the GR86 does the same job for less.
Nissan Z: 400 hp for a little over $44,000
The 2027 Nissan Z Sport starts at $44,480, according to Nissan’s July 21, 2026 pricing release, and Nissan charges the same price for the six-speed manual and the nine-speed automatic. Its twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 makes 400 hp, per Motor1’s report on the 2027 car. Nissan said in July that the refreshed Z would reach dealers that summer.
One discrepancy to know about: Motor1 listed a $1,245 destination fee, but Nissan’s own release says $1,325, and that’s the figure we use. With destination, the Z Sport comes to $45,805. That’s a big jump from the other four cars, but it buys more than twice the Miata’s horsepower. The Z Performance is $54,480 and the NISMO $67,260, so the Sport is the only Z that fits this list.
What to check before you sign for an affordable sports car
Start with the destination fee, because it isn’t the same from brand to brand. Mazda charges $1,315, Subaru $1,245 and Nissan $1,325, and Toyota and Ford add their own. On cars this close in price, that can flip a ranking: the Miata’s lead over the GR86 is only $770 before destination. Ask each dealer for the full out-the-door price in writing, because dealer add-ons can wipe out a gap that small.
Then match the transmission to the trim. Mazda hides the Miata’s automatic behind the Grand Touring, while Nissan charges nothing extra for the Z’s automatic. Subaru offers the BRZ automatic only on the Limited, at $36,990, and the tS is manual only.
If you want a Miata with a hard top, the RF Grand Touring starts at $38,750 on Mazda’s site. That puts it within $2,610 of the BRZ Limited, so it’s worth driving both before you decide.
Last, look at the tires. The BRZ tS rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires, according to Subaru, and summer tires lose grip as temperatures drop toward freezing. If you live where it snows, price a second set of wheels with winter tires before you compare monthly payments.
Which affordable sports car should you buy?
If you want the purest, lightest car and you’ll drive a manual, buy the Miata Sport and keep the $770 you save. If you want the best all-round value, buy the base GR86. If straight-line speed and a back seat matter more than steering feel, the Mustang EcoBoost gives you the most power per dollar.
Prices change during the model year, as the Miata’s $300 rise since January shows, so check the automaker’s site before you sign. If your budget runs higher, our list of the best luxury sports cars picks up where this one ends, and if you’d rather buy old, see our guide to affordable classic sports cars. Honda’s revived Prelude is another coupe worth reading about.
At Sports Car One, our pick of the affordable sports cars on sale today is the 2027 Toyota GR86: $31,500, 228 hp, and the lowest price you’ll pay for a car built around the driver.
Affordable sports car questions
What is the cheapest sports car you can buy new in 2026?
The 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport is the cheapest, at $30,730 on Mazda’s US website in October 2026, plus a $1,315 destination charge. The 2027 Toyota GR86 is close behind at $31,500. Both are rear-wheel-drive sports cars with a six-speed manual, so the choice comes down to an open roof or a fixed one.
Is the Toyota GR86 the same car as the Subaru BRZ?
They share the same engine specs. Both use a 2.4-liter flat-four rated at 228 hp, according to Toyota and Subaru. The difference is pricing and trims: the 2027 GR86 starts at $31,500, while the 2027 BRZ now starts at the Limited trim for $36,140. Subaru does give every 2027 BRZ its EyeSight driver-assist system, manual cars included.
Which affordable sports car has the most horsepower?
The 2027 Nissan Z, with 400 hp from a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, according to Motor1’s report on the 2027 lineup. It’s also the priciest car here at $44,480 before destination. Below $35,000, the 2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost leads with 315 hp from its turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder.